Song remains the same for the 'Die Hard' movies

It's shocking to find this one ahead of A Good Day to Die Hard, but after seeing the latest installment in the series, this one at least knew what made for a good Die Hard film.  Fans will have to judge for themselves whether the new one does.  Where it lands on this list should say plenty.The third Die Hard film was edgy because of the racial overtones spewed forth on screen between McClane and Zeus (Samuel L. Jackson).  This one, which has a familiar name as a villain, almost challenges as the second best in the series. The Hollywood attitude of "give us the same only different" was obvious in Die Hard 2.  But you know what?  It still worked.  It gave us William Sadler as a formidable villain, but more importantly, it gave us more of McClane and Willis added layers to the character despite it being a sequel.View the list »
The one that began it all, how could it be anything but No. 1 on this list?  Audiences saw Willis' charm in Moonlighting, but he brought it to the big screen along with an attitude and arrogance that still make the character of John McClane endearing.  It's still a standard bearer for action films.

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Officer John McClane landed on the silver screen and pumped up the testosterone levels of almost red blooded American male 25 years ago in the film Die Hard.
It became an instinct action and Christmas season classic. But it was the rare actioner. Yes, the handsome, smarmy Bruce Willis had a following courtesy of the hit TV series Moonlighting, but he opened the doors for more fans to appreciate his charms with his portrayal of McClane.
Why?
McClane is a badass with a heart. He quotes cowboys, yet when we first meet him when he’s trapped in Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles fending off alleged terrorists led by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), his primary concern is ensuring the welfare of his wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia), this despite the fact their marriage is in a deep valley. That's an action film any guy can take a significant other to see. The character scores with men and women because of those traits.
He’s rough around the edges, but holds a great sense of honor and that has been true of the character through subsequent sequels. That is something that could always be counted upon.
With today’s release of A Good Day to Die Hard, McClane returns with his son Jack (Jai Courtney) with something missing in the translation. Now after five films and 25 years, it’s fair to ask the question: which Die Hard film is best? That’s something every fan of the serious should contemplate.

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  • The one that began it all, how could it be anything but No. 1 on this list?  Audiences saw Willis' charm in Moonlighting, but he brought it to the big screen along with an attitude and arrogance that still make the character of John McClane endearing.  It's still a standard bearer for action films.
  • The Hollywood attitude of "give us the same only different" was obvious in Die Hard 2.  But you know what?  It still worked.  It gave us William Sadler as a formidable villain, but more importantly, it gave us more of McClane and Willis added layers to the character despite it being a sequel.
  • The third Die Hard film was edgy because of the racial overtones spewed forth on screen between McClane and Zeus (Samuel L. Jackson).  This one, which has a familiar name as a villain, almost challenges as the second best in the series. 
  • It's shocking to find this one ahead of A Good Day to Die Hard, but after seeing the latest installment in the series, this one at least knew what made for a good Die Hard film.  Fans will have to judge for themselves whether the new one does.  Where it lands on this list should say plenty.
  • Lesson learned:  never look forward to the arrival of a movie because inevitably disappointment comes with it.  A Good Day to Die Hard lands last on the list of films in the series.  Director John Moore doesn't appear to have any idea what exactly goes into what has made this series so enjoyable over a quarter century. 
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, Cleveland Movie Examiner

George M. Thomas reviewed movies and covered the business of movies for area newspapers for 12 years. For seven of those years, the Knight Ridder Tribune news service syndicated much of his work, including two columns. An eight-year member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), he’s...

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